Adaptation

Snails, in
general, have adaptations to help them not only survive, but
thrive in less than ideal conditions. Many snails are able to
seal their soft, moist bodies inside their shell to retain water
in times of low rainfall. This mechanism also comes in handy to
prevent predation. Predators must exert a significant amount of
energy to access the edible portion of the snail, the visceral
mass.
Specifically, terrestrial gastropods are able to live because of
the development of lungs. In order to get oxygen into the lungs,
terrestrial snails have an opening called a pneumostome that is
able to open and close via muscular contractions. To help
improve locomotion snails on land have gone through shell
reduction. This evolutionary process has reduced shell size,
making it easier for snails to move (Nordsieck, 2009).

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University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
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